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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

The FCP X Problem; University level

D

dillont

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Hi there,

I wanted to toss in my 3.5 cents (indexed for inflation) as someone who helps manage computer labs at a major University on the west coast of the US. We teach filmmaking, graphics, and 3D animation to aspiring artists and filmmakers. I make decisions on purchases and upgrades for hardware and software related to moving imagery.

We have an annual licensing program with Apple, which, for a fixed amount each year, we are given every software upgrade related to Final Cut Studio. My aim as a technician/instructor working at this University is to give students access to the same tools that industry professionals use, and workflows that industry professionals use.

FCP X has thrown me through a loop.

Apple has been telling us that they are releasing an awesome new version of FCP that will blow FCP 7 away. And so we all eagerly anticipated this release. The release came and went, and I'm scratching my head.

They released FCP X and discontinued support for FCP 7. FCP X is missing all the features that made FCP 7 professional. There is not even backwards compatibility!?!?

At this moment, Apple doesn't sell professional level editing software.

We're still on contract with Apple until August, so I'll go ahead and take the FCP X. **But we've got dozens of machines to install to, and the app store has no way for volume licensing to install on all our machines.** Still waiting to hear back from my rep at Apple on how this is supposed to work.

We run our classes in a network/server environment, and I'm reading that FCP X doesn't play well with network storage. I'd like to try that out for myself, but I HAVE NO WAY OF GETTING IT for the computer labs to test!

Hello, Apple? Feel that worm eating away at you?

I have a decision to make late July. Do we renew our annual license agreement with Apple, or sever ties and move on to developing a stronger relationship with Adobe and/or Avid, who clearly puts professionals first?

Apple mirespresented itself to us as an institution. It told us to wait for this killer new release that would replace FCP 7. FCP X doesn't. Apple has been uncommunicative about its intentions, and apparently has resorted to speaking through 3rd parties to say "the problem will be corrected".

From my vantage point, running facilities to educate students how to make movies, Apple's decision to release FCP X in its current state while not communicating with us is mind numbingly stupefying. This destroys confidence, and pushes me away from wanting to pursue a relationship with Apple in the future.

Dillon N. Thomas
 
If I were you, wait until the final hour of your decision-making and if Apple hasn't spoken about things to come, fixes to be made or anything until then, switch to another NLE.
If Apple can't reassure you that you will manage to keep doing what you are doing but better, then FCPX has no place at your University. Switch then to Avid or Premiere, the latter seem to be a favorite among those who now switch.
 
I'd like to be able to wait until the "final hour" to make "last minute decisions", but unfortunately, when working within bureaucracy environment where final decisions are often authorized by committee, which takes time, this isn't feasible.

Apple needs to fix this immediately, or it risks losing not just this University, but potentially many others who are facing the same dilemma.

Dillon

Christoffer Glans said:
If I were you, wait until the final hour of your decision-making and if Apple hasn't spoken about things to come, fixes to be made or anything until then, switch to another NLE.
If Apple can't reassure you that you will manage to keep doing what you are doing but better, then FCPX has no place at your University. Switch then to Avid or Premiere, the latter seem to be a favorite among those who now switch.
Click to expand...
 
dillont said:
Apple needs to fix this immediately, or it risks losing not just this University, but potentially many others who are facing the same dilemma.
Click to expand...
And since Apple is very happy with its EDU channel one could certainly expect that this issues are things that are being worked on. Talk to your Apple rep about this.
 
That would be nice if the rep at Apple who works in education knew what was going on. I spoke with him last week and the best he could give me is "I'll let you know when they tell me". A week later, and he still doesn't know.

Sigh.



noahvolek said:
And since Apple is very happy with its EDU channel one could certainly expect that this issues are things that are being worked on. Talk to your Apple rep about this.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks Christoffer,

I'm aware of the other softwares, and we already have CS5 Master Collection. FCS had been our favored because of ease of use, accessibility, and compatibility with other applications. The FCP X release and Apple's lack of communication changed all that. "Everything just changed in post" indeed.





Christoffer Glans said:
Alright, but maybe wait until the last possible minute? I mean, if you need to make the decision this week, I would suggest looking at other companies.
Avid got a great price for educational purposes. http://www.avid.com/US/specialoffers/special-offers-Student-Pricing
Click to expand...
 
CS5 or 5.5 is in my opinion even better at collaborating with other applications. Avid is also pretty good at it, but the main thing is that it's robust and quite bulletproof.
At least Avid communicates and there's a great supporting community of users together with official people from Avid.
Avid might be a little harder to learn at first, but not that hard. Premiere is an easier choice I think if you came from FCP7.

I hope you get info from Apple or manage to choose where to go. But I think that Premiere and Avid will be a good thing, there's not a lot of "bad" choices today... well, though in my opinion FCPX at the moment.
 
Thanks Christoffer, I hope Apple communicates as well. I've already been poking/prodding our professors to start using Adobe.

Changing abruptly this way is completely disruptive as our lecturers/professors may be forced to learn the new software and workflow/issues.

Like many others wrote, it feels like Apple is breaking up with me. "After all we've been through, you're just going to up and change without talking with me about it?" It was completely disrespectful on Apple's part.

Dillon

Christoffer Glans said:
CS5 or 5.5 is in my opinion even better at collaborating with other applications. Avid is also pretty good at it, but the main thing is that it's robust and quite bulletproof.
At least Avid communicates and there's a great supporting community of users together with official people from Avid.
Avid might be a little harder to learn at first, but not that hard. Premiere is an easier choice I think if you came from FCP7.

I hope you get info from Apple or manage to choose where to go. But I think that Premiere and Avid will be a good thing, there's not a lot of "bad" choices today... well, though in my opinion FCPX at the moment.
Click to expand...
 
I posted about these issues in the other thread. Got lambasted for being melodramatic. You said it well Dillon.
 
Well I put my 3.5 cents in an email to Steve Jobs @ Apple.

How many thousands of others have as well, I wonder?
 
dillont said:
Well I put my 3.5 cents in an email to Steve Jobs @ Apple.

How many thousands of others have as well, I wonder?
Click to expand...
Not sure that email address is going to get you far. Although it does go somewhere. hehe
 
lol. sjobs@apple.com is where I sent. No post master failure notifications here.

But yeah, i'm sure it went "somewhere". I'd be amazed if I heard back from him at all. I just had to voice my opinion as one who has lived in his ecosystem for years.



Steve Sherrick said:
Not sure that email address is going to get you far. Although it does go somewhere. hehe
Click to expand...
 
you've got about a month to think it over before you decide to cancel. i'm sure things will be crystal clear by then... if not, you'll be even more clear.
 
Certainly hope so. Fingers crossed. Anxious. Nervous. Unsettling. Upset with Apple.

These are feelings I work VERY HARD to make sure my clients DON'T experience when working with me. Why hasn't Apple done the same?

Dillon
 
dillont said:
Do we renew our annual license agreement with Apple, or sever ties and move on to developing a stronger relationship with Adobe and/or Avid, who clearly puts professionals first?
Click to expand...
Are your students professionals, or are your students students? FCP-X has a lot to offer students, it will give them an essential grounding in editing.
 
dillont said:
lol. sjobs@apple.com is where I sent. No post master failure notifications here.

But yeah, i'm sure it went "somewhere". I'd be amazed if I heard back from him at all. I just had to voice my opinion as one who has lived in his ecosystem for years.
Click to expand...


sjobs@apple.com goes to the HR department and stands for SHIT JOBS AT APPLE! IE People who make final cut!
 
George Butterfield said:
Are your students professionals, or are your students students? FCP-X has a lot to offer students, it will give them an essential grounding in editing.
Click to expand...

What makes you say that Avid or Premiere isn't doing the same?

And by the way, learning the essential grounding in editing has NOTHING to do with the NLE.
 
George,

That's all part of the equation I'm looking at. yes, FCP X is WONDERFUL for amateurs and beginners. But it completely lacks professional workflows which we are also wanting our students to comprehend (to prepare them to work in industry).

As I am unable to get FCP X in the computer lab (no volume installations supported), I can't test your postulation that "it will give them an essential grounding in editing". But to address what I understand to be "an essential grounding in editing", the essentials of editing include understanding tracks, and I/O processes. FCP X currently doesn't offer tracks, or I/O to other pro applications. Trackless editing is not an essential grounding in editing, IMHO.

My decision AT THE MOMENT is to tell students the truth of the matter. Yes, it seems like a snazzy new way to edit, but there's nothing pro about it yet. And industry professionals are all furious at what Apple has done.

Dillon





George Butterfield said:
Are your students professionals, or are your students students? FCP-X has a lot to offer students, it will give them an essential grounding in editing.
Click to expand...
 
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